News that Congress may take up a bill that would ban devices that can turn semi-automatic rifles into virtual machine guns is a welcome sign that this country, finally, may be ready to begin a serious discussion about gun violence.

The shock waves of the bloodiest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has pushed Washington toward action, though negligible given the scale of the challenge.

Americans must measure the steps taken by their elected representatives with the full knowledge that there is no single piece of legislation that will adequately address gun violence in this country.

Whatever Congress may do must be seen with the understanding that any action is only the first step in what must be a broad and sustained efforts to confront the many reasons why the United States is the deadliest country in the world.

Police say that on Oct. 1, Stephen Paddock opened fired from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort on the Las Vegas Strip targeting an outdoor concert across the street attended by 22,000 people.

The soundtracks of the videos taken that night are filled with a rapid succession of “pops” that sound very much like automatic weapons fire.

The shooting and the ensuing panic left 58 people dead and more than 500 injured.

GOP leaders and the Trump administration have joined traditional proponents of gun control among Democrats to say they are open to discussing banning bump stocks.

Even the National Rifle Association -- staunch opponents of virtually any form of regulation on gun sales and possession -- concedes bump stocks should be “subject to additional regulations.’’

There is no easy way to deal with gun violence, a nexus of society’s ills that includes intolerance, polarization, poverty, crime, drugs, terrorism and mental health. But the problem is magnified by the sheer number of weapons already in circulation.

Even the smallest steps politicians are willing to take in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting give hope that this time things will be different, that this time Washington will offer more than “thoughts and prayers.”

Contact Engagement Editor Aki Soga at asoga@freepressmedia.com. Join the conversation online at BurlingtonFreePress.com or send a letter to the editor to letters@freepressmedia.com.